Many people in the U.K. and around the world travel the well-trodden path to London town in search of fun and fortune. I should know – I am one of them; I left my village in Wales when I was 18 and spent eight years enjoying all it had to offer. However, the downside to London (apart from communing) is its lack of beaches to surf and mountains to climb, and if you don’t have a car it can be an expensive business to get out of the city to surf, hike, kayak, climb or do whatever your extreme sport passion is. To ski or snowboard you need to catch a plane or a train, and it’s not cheap going to the Continent.  It’s not always about money either – finding the time between work and social commitments is also hard, but London always has a surprise somewhere. So here is your guide on how to keep up with your sport when you can’t get out of the city.

Climbing

London has a number of climbing walls for all levels and disciplines of climbing:

Bouldering

The Biscuit Factory, located in Bermondsey, used to be known as the Arch Climbing Wall. It’s a bouldering-only gym. I used to hang out at the Arch, their old location in London Bridge, with my friends quite often.  It has a great community and a good verity of walls to practice on. The Biscuit Factory also holds women-only climbing workshops. The Urban Ascent in South West London is anther bouldering-only gym.

Top Roping and Lead Climbing

West Way, located near Latimer Road tube station, is one of London’s biggest climbing walls. You can top rope, lead climb and go bouldering. There are 350 climbing routes, 110 roped lines, and 90 route changes a month. The Castle Climbing Centre in Stoke Newington is a climbing wall in a Castle – which is just cool in itself. You can climb to the top of the tower; they are developing new leading climbing areas in the old pump rooms and there is an outdoor bouldering area. The Reach is one of South London’s largest climbing walls they have 80 roped lines, up to 11 meters high, with around 50 lead climbs. Mile End Wall in… er… Mile End has 16,000 sq. ft of climbing surface. They are best known for their monkey house section. For you North Londoners, High Sports in Swiss Cottage has a climbing wall with top roping, lead climbs and bouldering.  All of the above climbing sports have lessons, taster sessions, and kids’ climbing.

Hiking

Walking around London is the best way to see it. I tell this to anyone who visits, but as beautiful and varied as London is, sometimes you need to see some wide-open fields and get away from the vast hordes of people.

If you want a quick country fix head to Richmond Park.Two heards of deer inhabit the park, and if you face the right way you can’t see any buildings. The only downside is the numerous flights roaring past on their way to Heathrow.

Another ‘country walk’ I did a few times was Putney Heath to Wimbledon Common. If you wish to make it a longer walk you can carry on through Richmond Park. The Putney Heath to Wimbledon walk begins at the Green Man Pub. Walk through the Heath until you reach the Telegraph Pub, which is where Telegraph Road and Wildcroft Road meet. To the side of the pub is a public footpath. Follow it through the wood, past dens that were made by some of the local children, and continue on the path until you come to a little tunnel that leads under Kingston Road. Once you have come through the tunnel, you are in Wimbledon Common. Follow the path and you will reach King’s Mere Pond; from there it’s up to you which paths you take. If you follow the path that by-passes the pond, it will take you straight to the Wimbledon Windmill Museum. I am not sure how long this walk takes as I have always stopped by for a drink at the Telegraph. However, at a guess — minus the pint — it should take no longer that a couple of hours.

The South Downs are the closest proper countryside you can find to London. The South Downs Way is 100 mile-long trail that goes from Winchester to Eastbourne. Obviously you do not have to do this in one go, and a car is not essential as the route is never far from a train station. The blog, Rambling Man, has a great trip planner for the South Downs.

The Surrey Downs are another place that’s just a stone’s throw from London – though you will have to share the trails with mountain bikers.

There are also lots of little hikes to take in the Home Counties. I recommend checking out the Londonhiker.com for options and more information.

Kayaking

 

Yes, you can Kayak in London. You can even do a tour of London while kayaking on the River Thames. Kayaking London, London Kayak Tours and Canoe London are the main players and offer a variety of tours such as paddling past Hampton court, Regents Canal, and Windsor. You can also wander down the River Wandle, a tributary of the Thames in South London.

If you are looking hire a kayak to explore London’s waterways yourself, you can go to Canoe and Kayak the Thames  in Shepperton and Lee Valley Canoe and Cycle. One option, if you’re looking to explore independently, is to do a riverside pup crawl. Of course kayaking while intoxicated may not best idea!

Kite Landboarding/Buggying

It’s hard to get your powerkite out in London – there are too many trees, houses, power lines and cars in the way. However, there is one place in the Big Smoke where you can go kite longboarding, or just practice flying your powerkite safely, and that is Blackheath. This is pretty little ‘village’ in the Greenwich area. Its exposed flat heath area is perfect for Kiting. Gunnersbury Park is also becoming popular with Kiters.

Mountain Biking

The PORC mountain bike trail is one of the oldest in London

There is a surprising amount of mountain biking trails in and around London.

Epping Forest in Essex is the only place to have real mountain biking trails within London. It’s twisty, fast, and known to have some epic mud. If you don’t like mud try Hainault Forest – it’s known to be somewhat less muddy than Epping. The Lordship Loop in Tottenham is a pumptrack full of rollers, berms, roller doubles and step-up jumps.

If you are looking to do a bit of cross-country, try Danbury. It has a small freeride area maintained by locals. There are small, tight, downhill runs as well as features.

Just outside the M25 is the North Downs, Surrey Hills, Peaslake and Dorking. These trails are considered some of the best in the South East. Londoners descend on this area on the weekend, and it’s the only time I’ve ever seen a bike rack hitched on a back of a Porsche. Despite all this, new stuff always being built, the sandy soil means less mud and there is a well-established scene.

The PORC mountain biking trail is one of the oldest down-hilling spots in London. There are gap jumps, ladders, and progressive dirt jumps.

Aston Hill has some of the steepest tracks in town with five downhill runs. The soil is made out of clay, and it can be a bit lethal when it’s wet.

The Chicksands Bike Park has a verity of 4x and downhill tracks.

Running

One of the worlds most populer sports – wheather you are visiting, just moved to the city or a vetran here are a selection of running routes that take in some of the most famous and beauful places in London.

The Thames Path: for the tourist

The Thames path follows the river for 180 miles. Here you will pass some of the worlds most famous buildings – the Houses of Parlment, London Eye, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge and many others. The runs vary from loops taking in both banks or long straches that stay along one bank. The most famous route to take would be the Westminster to London Bridge, however this can get very busy on a sunny day. Another Thames Path run would be the  five mile Isle of dogs route  taking in London’s Docklands. The route will give you views of Greenwich and of the Millenum Dome.

Hampstead Heath : for the country lover

Running through the woods and muddy paths its hard to beleive you are still in london.  Many Paths criss cross the heath taking you past Kenwood House gardens, lakes and  parliment hill – where you will get an extradanrry veiw of London.

Hyde Park-and Kensington Gardens: for the Downton Abby Lovers

If you love all things statly home and royalty. This is your place.Your run will take you past the home of Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge, the world famous serpenie, formal Intalian Gardens and  the princess Diana Memorial.

Regents Canal and Camden Town run: for historian.

Picturessque and historic, the regent’s cannal was an international trade route – now its tranquil waters give way to houseboats and cannal tours. Begin from Camden Lock and take the path all the way to Little Venice.

Richmond Park: for the wildlife lover

One of London’s biggest park in the south west of the city, there are a huge number of routes you can take.on the way you will see deer, sqirals and lots of birds. If you are lucky you might even glimps the legondary white deer of Richmond .

Ski and Snowboarding

There are, of course, no mountains in London, and it’s not cold enough for snow most of the time, but that did stop the building of indoor ski and snowboarding facility in Hemel Hampstead and Milton Keynes (OK, Milton Keynes is not London, but its close enough to go to for the evening). At both the Snow Centre in Hemel Hampstead, and the Snow Zone in Milton Keynes, you go for a freestyle session, improves your boarding or skiing skills, and if you are a complete novice you can book a lesson. £

Prices start from £23.40 in Snow Centre and from £17.99 for Snow Zone.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding

Stand up paddle boarding, or SUP as it’s known, is a growing sport in the UK. It’s easy to learn and it’s a fantastic way to keep fit. Active 360 have a SUP school and board rental in Kew. SUPCity is also ran by Active 360 and can be found in Paddington Basin. They regularly have SUP races and SUP Yoga.  Canoe London also has SUP tours and lessons.

Surfing

There has been talk of a wave park, but it’s yet to materialise. Sorry, you’ll have to leave the city for this one.